unosarta
2010-10-20, 12:08 PM
Phantom Slash
The Phantom Slash is the combination of a rogue and a martial adept, as a gish PrC. It focuses on both stealth and damage. Most Phantom Slashes start as rogue/swordsage, and then enter this class. Phantom Slashes do not have any truly organized form of communication or organizations, and it is very hard for a Phantom Slash to recognize another member of their class, short of fighting them, and even then, most of the abilities are not very obvious or flashy in nature.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f195/Kraven118/assassin.jpg
I have spoken with shadow. I have heard its roar, and the silence that follows. Do you wish to hear it?
The Phantom Slash is a supreme assassin or thief. He is able to hide in most any circumstance, and is incredibly good at it. The Phantom Slash focuses more on stealth than damage, but has several abilities that increase his ability to deal damage.
BECOMING A Phantom Slash
How you would normally become a member of this prestige class.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +4
Skills: Move Silently 9 ranks, Hide 9 ranks
Feats: Shadow Blade
Class Ability: +3d6 Sneak Attack
Maneuvers: A Shadow Hand maneuver of at least 2nd level
Class Skills
A Phantom Slash’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex).
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int
Hit Dice: d6
Phantom Slash
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|In the Shadow (Invisible)
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+0|Slink, +1d6 Sneak Attack
3rd|
+2|
+1|
+3|
+1|Strike in the Shadows
4th|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|In the Shadows (Incorporeal), +2d6 Sneak Attack
5th|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|Phantasm Stance
6th|
+4|
+2|
+5|
+2|+3d6 Sneak Attack
7th|
+5|
+2|
+5|
+2|Out of the Shadows (Invisible)
8th|
+6/+1|
+2|
+6|
+2|Penumbra Slice, +4d6 Sneak Attack
9th|
+6/+1|
+3|
+6|
+3|Hide in Plain Sight
10th|
+7/+2|
+3|
+7|
+3|Out of the Shadows (Incorporeal), +5d6 Sneak Attack[/table]
Maneuvers
{table=head]Level|Known|Readied|Stance
1st|1|1|0
2nd|0|0|0
3rd|0|0|0
4th|1|0|0
5th|0|0|0
6th|0|0|0
7th|1|0|0
8th|0|0|1
9th|0|0|0
10th|1|1|0[/table]
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The Phantom Slash is proficient with all Simple Weapons, Dagger, Short Sword, Sai, Siangham, Spiked Chain, and Kukri, and light armor.
Maneuvers: At 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th levels, a Phantom Slash gains new maneuvers known from the Shadow Hand discipline. He must meet a maneuver's prerequisite to learn it. He adds his full Phantom Slash levels to his initiator level to determine his total initiator level and his highest-level maneuvers known.
At levels 1st, and 10th, he gains an additional maneuver readied per day.
At 8th level, he learns a new martial stance from the Shadow Hand disciplines. He must meet the stances prerequisites to learn it.
In the Shadows (Su): As long as the Phantom Slash is in shadowy illumination, or complete or magical darkness, he is invisible, as the Greater Invisibility spell. If the Phantom Slash leaves the shadows or darkness, he remains visible for a number of rounds equal to his dexterity modifier. At fourth level, the Phantom Slash becomes Incorporeal as well, when they enter the shadows or darkness, but only in the shadows or darkness. While incorporeal, the Phantom Slash may freely attack other incorporeal creatures, and any Shadow Hand maneuver affects non-incorporeal creatures normally. Any weapons or equipment that the Phantom Slash carries are also incorporeal, but the Phantom Slash may attack with them and hit corporeal foes normally a number of times per encounter equal to his dexterity modifier plus his Phantom Slash levels.
Slink (Ex): The Phantom Slash adds his Phantom Slash levels as a competency bonus to all Move Silently and Hide checks.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Beginning at 2rd level, a Phantom Slash deals an extra 1d6 points of damage when flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied its Dexterity bonus. This extra damage applies to ranged attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. It increases to 2d6 points at 4th level and every two levels after that. See the rogue class feature, page 50 of the Player’s Handbook. If a Phantom Slash gets a sneak attack bonus from another source (such as levels of rogue), the bonuses on damage stack. When making a sneak attack, the Phantom Slash may add twice his dexterity modifier as a bonus to damage rolls made on a sneak attack. This is not precision damage.
Strike In the Shadows: Starting at third level, the Phantom Slash may lose a readied maneuver as a swift action, and immediately gain a free attack against a flat footed opponent that he is able to attack. He must make a Hide check greater than, or equal to, the opponents' Armor Class, in addition to making the attack, in order for this ability to take effect. He deals double damage on this attack. Any maneuver sacrificed in this way does not recover until the Phantom Slash rests for at least eight hours. After the attack, the opponent is not aware of the Phantom Slash unless he makes a Spot check higher than the roll that the Phantom Slash made for his Hide check.
Phantasm Stance (Su): Starting at fifth level, the Phantom Slash may, as a swift action, get rid of his current stance, and gain the Phantasm Stance. While using this stance, the Phantom Slash may use Dimension Door as a move action as long as he is within a shadow, or in total or magical darkness. He may only Dimension Door to another shadow. His caster level for this effect is his class level. He may only use this effect a number of rounds equal to his class level plus his dexterity modifier. After that period, he is unable to move, speak, or attack for a number of rounds equal to his class level. After that period, he repeats the cycle. He may not leave this stance until the encounter is over, and cannot use it outside of combat.
Out of the Shadows (Su): Starting at seventh level, the Phantom Slash remains invisible even when not in shadows, or total or magical darkness. Only those who he allows to see him are able too, or those who are under the effect of a True Seeing spell (He still gains a +15 bonus to hide checks.) At tenth level, the Phantom Slash remains Incorporeal even when not in the shadows. He may become corporeal any number of times per day as a swift action, but only may stay corporeal for a number of rounds equal to his class level consecutively. All of the other benefits and restriction from In the Shadows apply to him as well. His weapons may affect corporeal enemies as if they had the Ghost Touch ability. When the Phantom Slash is not in combat, he may choose to be Corporeal or not at will, without needing to use his swift action once per minute.
Penumbra Slice At eighth level, as a swift action during his turn, the Phantom Slash may choose to lose a maneuver. If he does so, all attacks made in the next two rounds against that opponent count as if the recipient were flat footed, and all damage ignores Damage Reduction. This ability allows the Phantom Slash to Sneak Attack undead and other creatures that are normally immune to sneak attack or precision damage. The maneuver sacrificed in this way must be of the Shadow Hand discipline.
PLAYING A PHANTOM SLASH
Most Phantom Slashes stick to the shadows, staying away from a life of style. A large number work as assassins, and are very good at their work. Pretty much all of the rest work for various thieves guilds, as freelance or contracted burglars, or professional thieves.
Combat: The first round of combat for Phantom Slashes is VERY important. The first thing any Phantom Slash does is find a patch of shadow, or some sort of darkness. If none exists, he may attempt to create some, usually via flash grenades. As soon as shadow has been found and entered, the Phantom Slash can go to town. He has incredibly high hide scores, and is able to pretty much just walk around and do whatever it is he wants. This could include escape, thievery, Sneak Attacks, kidnapping, you name it.
Advancement: Most Phantom Slashes are comfortable just going back to rogue, or swordsage, or whatever classes they had entered before this one. If, they wanted to specialize more, there are many options, Assassin for those more focused on the killing aspect of the Phantom Slash’s abilities, or Thief Acrobat, for those more interested in thievery.
Resources: Most members of the Phantom Slash class are trained in solitude by a single master. As such, they do not receive many benefits at all from being a Phantom Slash.
PHANTOM SLASH IN THE WORLD
“I have been sleeping in fear every night since I received the death threat from the owner of the shop across the street from mine. I can hear the shadows whisper at me. I am scared. I am so scared. When will it come? Protect me, save me. Pl--”
- Last words of one Killian Sommers.
Most Phantom Slashes, if known about at all, are taken to be assassins and are treated very badly. Those who do not kill for profit and are members of this class take it very badly when they are mistaken for someone who does, and go out of their way to not kill. If they meet up with Phantom Slashes who do kill, they tend to be more aggressive, and pick fights. Those who are members of this class who do kill for money, tend to view those who do not as weak, and not very skilled.
Daily Life: Most Phantom Slashes tend to work very late hours, when the shadows and darkness have more prevalence, and as such tend to sleep late into the morning, and stay up very late. Most practice some form of combat, and the lifestyles past this point vary widely depending on the Phantom Slash’s work.
Notables: Very few members of this class stick out far enough to be recognized commonly, and those that do tend to be very flamboyant, and looked down upon by others in the class. One notable who is not known publicly, but is infamous in the world of assassins, is Karssin. He will do pretty much anything for money, if you can contact him, and pay his price.
Organizations: Since most Phantom Slashes train in secret, with only one master, they rarely created organizations purely focused on their class. They often join other guilds, be it thieves, or assassins, but there is not one for Phantom Slashes. They tend to be isolationist and uncooperative, and are barely able to deal with those guilds that they do join, let alone of others of the same class. They would likely kill each other within the fist two weeks.
NPC REACTION
Most NPCs have a relatively negative reaction to Phantom Slashes, if they even know that the class exists. Most Phantom Slashes work very hard to make sure that they are not noticed, and often silence those who are too over the top and well known.
PHANTOM SLASH IN THE GAME
The Phantom Slash is a relatively solo-esque class, but can work very well with others, mechanically and character wise. However a lot of the abilities are fairly powerful, and as soon as the Phantom Slash hits level eight, he becomes a damage powerhouse, that can pretty much deal large amounts of damage to anything, especially Ethereal monsters. This could be a problem for DMs who like to challenge Sneak Attackers and other precision damage dealers with enemies that are immune to Sneak Attack.
Adaptation: This class could work just as easily for the ninja, or any other precision based class. The scout could have some interesting synergy with this classes abilities.
Encounters: Most encounters with a Phantom Slash will be only the Phantom Slash. They will be more guerilla style tactics, seeing as the Phantom Slash has a relatively small health point total. Most of the encounter will have the Phantom Slash invisible, and depending on level, ethereal. If a Phantom Slash is attacking the party however, it will almost always be in the hire of someone, or for personal revenge. The Phantom Slash will be usually very methodical about how he approaches the party, ready to run away at any point. Usually the Phantom Slash will take out any casters first, especially those who might have true seeing.
Sample Encounter
A nobleman has hired the PCs in order to protect himself against what he thinks is an assassin.
EL 8: a Man with a skin tight cotton body suit made out of some sort of black fabric saunters slowly towards the nobleman’s room. As he passes through a shadow in from a curtain in front of a window, he disappears. Your eyes try to adjust and find him, and you hear shouts. As you look behind, the nobleman has a knife in his throat.
Karssin
Neutral Evil/Male/Human
Rogue 3/Swordsage 3/ Phantom Slash 4
Init +12, Senses: Listen +16, Spot +16
Languages Common, Dwarven
------------------------------------------------
AC AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (10+6(Dex)+2(Leather Armor))
hp 48 (3d6+3d8+4d6+10)
Fort +4, Ref +17, Will +8
------------------------------------------------
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +18/+13 (1d6+10) (1d6+10+5d6+10 if Sneak Attacking)
Base Atk +7/+2, Grp +6
Atk Options Sneak Attack +5d6+10 (+2d6 if in Assassin’s Stance)
Combat Gear +3 Deadly Precision Short Sword x 2
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 8, Dex 24, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 8
SQIn the Shadows (Invisible & Incorporeal)
Feats Weapon Finesse, Shadow Blade, Improved Initiative, Craven, Extra Granted Maneuver.
Skills Hide +23, Move Silently +23, Spot +16, Listen +16, Tumble +19, Intimidate +11, Search +14, Escape Artist +19, Balance +14
Possessions +4 Gloves of Dexterity
Maneuvers:
Known: Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Mighty Throw, Counter Charge, Wind Stride, Clinging Shadow Strike, Shadow Blade Technique, Emerald Razor, Shadow Jaunt, Shadow Garrote, and Strength Draining Strike.
Readied: Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Counter Charge, Wind Stride, Emerald Razor x 2, Shadow Jaunt, Shadow Garrote, and Shadow Blade Technique.
Stances: Island of Blades, Child of Shadow, and Assassin’s Stance.
So. My main concern here is for the strength of class. Obviously, they are not as powerful as Tier One classes, but compared to Rogues and Swordsages, they seem a little strong. Any thoughts on that end?
The Phantom Slash is the combination of a rogue and a martial adept, as a gish PrC. It focuses on both stealth and damage. Most Phantom Slashes start as rogue/swordsage, and then enter this class. Phantom Slashes do not have any truly organized form of communication or organizations, and it is very hard for a Phantom Slash to recognize another member of their class, short of fighting them, and even then, most of the abilities are not very obvious or flashy in nature.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f195/Kraven118/assassin.jpg
I have spoken with shadow. I have heard its roar, and the silence that follows. Do you wish to hear it?
The Phantom Slash is a supreme assassin or thief. He is able to hide in most any circumstance, and is incredibly good at it. The Phantom Slash focuses more on stealth than damage, but has several abilities that increase his ability to deal damage.
BECOMING A Phantom Slash
How you would normally become a member of this prestige class.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +4
Skills: Move Silently 9 ranks, Hide 9 ranks
Feats: Shadow Blade
Class Ability: +3d6 Sneak Attack
Maneuvers: A Shadow Hand maneuver of at least 2nd level
Class Skills
A Phantom Slash’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex).
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int
Hit Dice: d6
Phantom Slash
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|In the Shadow (Invisible)
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+0|Slink, +1d6 Sneak Attack
3rd|
+2|
+1|
+3|
+1|Strike in the Shadows
4th|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|In the Shadows (Incorporeal), +2d6 Sneak Attack
5th|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|Phantasm Stance
6th|
+4|
+2|
+5|
+2|+3d6 Sneak Attack
7th|
+5|
+2|
+5|
+2|Out of the Shadows (Invisible)
8th|
+6/+1|
+2|
+6|
+2|Penumbra Slice, +4d6 Sneak Attack
9th|
+6/+1|
+3|
+6|
+3|Hide in Plain Sight
10th|
+7/+2|
+3|
+7|
+3|Out of the Shadows (Incorporeal), +5d6 Sneak Attack[/table]
Maneuvers
{table=head]Level|Known|Readied|Stance
1st|1|1|0
2nd|0|0|0
3rd|0|0|0
4th|1|0|0
5th|0|0|0
6th|0|0|0
7th|1|0|0
8th|0|0|1
9th|0|0|0
10th|1|1|0[/table]
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The Phantom Slash is proficient with all Simple Weapons, Dagger, Short Sword, Sai, Siangham, Spiked Chain, and Kukri, and light armor.
Maneuvers: At 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th levels, a Phantom Slash gains new maneuvers known from the Shadow Hand discipline. He must meet a maneuver's prerequisite to learn it. He adds his full Phantom Slash levels to his initiator level to determine his total initiator level and his highest-level maneuvers known.
At levels 1st, and 10th, he gains an additional maneuver readied per day.
At 8th level, he learns a new martial stance from the Shadow Hand disciplines. He must meet the stances prerequisites to learn it.
In the Shadows (Su): As long as the Phantom Slash is in shadowy illumination, or complete or magical darkness, he is invisible, as the Greater Invisibility spell. If the Phantom Slash leaves the shadows or darkness, he remains visible for a number of rounds equal to his dexterity modifier. At fourth level, the Phantom Slash becomes Incorporeal as well, when they enter the shadows or darkness, but only in the shadows or darkness. While incorporeal, the Phantom Slash may freely attack other incorporeal creatures, and any Shadow Hand maneuver affects non-incorporeal creatures normally. Any weapons or equipment that the Phantom Slash carries are also incorporeal, but the Phantom Slash may attack with them and hit corporeal foes normally a number of times per encounter equal to his dexterity modifier plus his Phantom Slash levels.
Slink (Ex): The Phantom Slash adds his Phantom Slash levels as a competency bonus to all Move Silently and Hide checks.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Beginning at 2rd level, a Phantom Slash deals an extra 1d6 points of damage when flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied its Dexterity bonus. This extra damage applies to ranged attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. It increases to 2d6 points at 4th level and every two levels after that. See the rogue class feature, page 50 of the Player’s Handbook. If a Phantom Slash gets a sneak attack bonus from another source (such as levels of rogue), the bonuses on damage stack. When making a sneak attack, the Phantom Slash may add twice his dexterity modifier as a bonus to damage rolls made on a sneak attack. This is not precision damage.
Strike In the Shadows: Starting at third level, the Phantom Slash may lose a readied maneuver as a swift action, and immediately gain a free attack against a flat footed opponent that he is able to attack. He must make a Hide check greater than, or equal to, the opponents' Armor Class, in addition to making the attack, in order for this ability to take effect. He deals double damage on this attack. Any maneuver sacrificed in this way does not recover until the Phantom Slash rests for at least eight hours. After the attack, the opponent is not aware of the Phantom Slash unless he makes a Spot check higher than the roll that the Phantom Slash made for his Hide check.
Phantasm Stance (Su): Starting at fifth level, the Phantom Slash may, as a swift action, get rid of his current stance, and gain the Phantasm Stance. While using this stance, the Phantom Slash may use Dimension Door as a move action as long as he is within a shadow, or in total or magical darkness. He may only Dimension Door to another shadow. His caster level for this effect is his class level. He may only use this effect a number of rounds equal to his class level plus his dexterity modifier. After that period, he is unable to move, speak, or attack for a number of rounds equal to his class level. After that period, he repeats the cycle. He may not leave this stance until the encounter is over, and cannot use it outside of combat.
Out of the Shadows (Su): Starting at seventh level, the Phantom Slash remains invisible even when not in shadows, or total or magical darkness. Only those who he allows to see him are able too, or those who are under the effect of a True Seeing spell (He still gains a +15 bonus to hide checks.) At tenth level, the Phantom Slash remains Incorporeal even when not in the shadows. He may become corporeal any number of times per day as a swift action, but only may stay corporeal for a number of rounds equal to his class level consecutively. All of the other benefits and restriction from In the Shadows apply to him as well. His weapons may affect corporeal enemies as if they had the Ghost Touch ability. When the Phantom Slash is not in combat, he may choose to be Corporeal or not at will, without needing to use his swift action once per minute.
Penumbra Slice At eighth level, as a swift action during his turn, the Phantom Slash may choose to lose a maneuver. If he does so, all attacks made in the next two rounds against that opponent count as if the recipient were flat footed, and all damage ignores Damage Reduction. This ability allows the Phantom Slash to Sneak Attack undead and other creatures that are normally immune to sneak attack or precision damage. The maneuver sacrificed in this way must be of the Shadow Hand discipline.
PLAYING A PHANTOM SLASH
Most Phantom Slashes stick to the shadows, staying away from a life of style. A large number work as assassins, and are very good at their work. Pretty much all of the rest work for various thieves guilds, as freelance or contracted burglars, or professional thieves.
Combat: The first round of combat for Phantom Slashes is VERY important. The first thing any Phantom Slash does is find a patch of shadow, or some sort of darkness. If none exists, he may attempt to create some, usually via flash grenades. As soon as shadow has been found and entered, the Phantom Slash can go to town. He has incredibly high hide scores, and is able to pretty much just walk around and do whatever it is he wants. This could include escape, thievery, Sneak Attacks, kidnapping, you name it.
Advancement: Most Phantom Slashes are comfortable just going back to rogue, or swordsage, or whatever classes they had entered before this one. If, they wanted to specialize more, there are many options, Assassin for those more focused on the killing aspect of the Phantom Slash’s abilities, or Thief Acrobat, for those more interested in thievery.
Resources: Most members of the Phantom Slash class are trained in solitude by a single master. As such, they do not receive many benefits at all from being a Phantom Slash.
PHANTOM SLASH IN THE WORLD
“I have been sleeping in fear every night since I received the death threat from the owner of the shop across the street from mine. I can hear the shadows whisper at me. I am scared. I am so scared. When will it come? Protect me, save me. Pl--”
- Last words of one Killian Sommers.
Most Phantom Slashes, if known about at all, are taken to be assassins and are treated very badly. Those who do not kill for profit and are members of this class take it very badly when they are mistaken for someone who does, and go out of their way to not kill. If they meet up with Phantom Slashes who do kill, they tend to be more aggressive, and pick fights. Those who are members of this class who do kill for money, tend to view those who do not as weak, and not very skilled.
Daily Life: Most Phantom Slashes tend to work very late hours, when the shadows and darkness have more prevalence, and as such tend to sleep late into the morning, and stay up very late. Most practice some form of combat, and the lifestyles past this point vary widely depending on the Phantom Slash’s work.
Notables: Very few members of this class stick out far enough to be recognized commonly, and those that do tend to be very flamboyant, and looked down upon by others in the class. One notable who is not known publicly, but is infamous in the world of assassins, is Karssin. He will do pretty much anything for money, if you can contact him, and pay his price.
Organizations: Since most Phantom Slashes train in secret, with only one master, they rarely created organizations purely focused on their class. They often join other guilds, be it thieves, or assassins, but there is not one for Phantom Slashes. They tend to be isolationist and uncooperative, and are barely able to deal with those guilds that they do join, let alone of others of the same class. They would likely kill each other within the fist two weeks.
NPC REACTION
Most NPCs have a relatively negative reaction to Phantom Slashes, if they even know that the class exists. Most Phantom Slashes work very hard to make sure that they are not noticed, and often silence those who are too over the top and well known.
PHANTOM SLASH IN THE GAME
The Phantom Slash is a relatively solo-esque class, but can work very well with others, mechanically and character wise. However a lot of the abilities are fairly powerful, and as soon as the Phantom Slash hits level eight, he becomes a damage powerhouse, that can pretty much deal large amounts of damage to anything, especially Ethereal monsters. This could be a problem for DMs who like to challenge Sneak Attackers and other precision damage dealers with enemies that are immune to Sneak Attack.
Adaptation: This class could work just as easily for the ninja, or any other precision based class. The scout could have some interesting synergy with this classes abilities.
Encounters: Most encounters with a Phantom Slash will be only the Phantom Slash. They will be more guerilla style tactics, seeing as the Phantom Slash has a relatively small health point total. Most of the encounter will have the Phantom Slash invisible, and depending on level, ethereal. If a Phantom Slash is attacking the party however, it will almost always be in the hire of someone, or for personal revenge. The Phantom Slash will be usually very methodical about how he approaches the party, ready to run away at any point. Usually the Phantom Slash will take out any casters first, especially those who might have true seeing.
Sample Encounter
A nobleman has hired the PCs in order to protect himself against what he thinks is an assassin.
EL 8: a Man with a skin tight cotton body suit made out of some sort of black fabric saunters slowly towards the nobleman’s room. As he passes through a shadow in from a curtain in front of a window, he disappears. Your eyes try to adjust and find him, and you hear shouts. As you look behind, the nobleman has a knife in his throat.
Karssin
Neutral Evil/Male/Human
Rogue 3/Swordsage 3/ Phantom Slash 4
Init +12, Senses: Listen +16, Spot +16
Languages Common, Dwarven
------------------------------------------------
AC AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (10+6(Dex)+2(Leather Armor))
hp 48 (3d6+3d8+4d6+10)
Fort +4, Ref +17, Will +8
------------------------------------------------
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +18/+13 (1d6+10) (1d6+10+5d6+10 if Sneak Attacking)
Base Atk +7/+2, Grp +6
Atk Options Sneak Attack +5d6+10 (+2d6 if in Assassin’s Stance)
Combat Gear +3 Deadly Precision Short Sword x 2
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 8, Dex 24, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 8
SQIn the Shadows (Invisible & Incorporeal)
Feats Weapon Finesse, Shadow Blade, Improved Initiative, Craven, Extra Granted Maneuver.
Skills Hide +23, Move Silently +23, Spot +16, Listen +16, Tumble +19, Intimidate +11, Search +14, Escape Artist +19, Balance +14
Possessions +4 Gloves of Dexterity
Maneuvers:
Known: Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Mighty Throw, Counter Charge, Wind Stride, Clinging Shadow Strike, Shadow Blade Technique, Emerald Razor, Shadow Jaunt, Shadow Garrote, and Strength Draining Strike.
Readied: Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Counter Charge, Wind Stride, Emerald Razor x 2, Shadow Jaunt, Shadow Garrote, and Shadow Blade Technique.
Stances: Island of Blades, Child of Shadow, and Assassin’s Stance.
So. My main concern here is for the strength of class. Obviously, they are not as powerful as Tier One classes, but compared to Rogues and Swordsages, they seem a little strong. Any thoughts on that end?